Service Learning

In CIS we understand that our mission is not only targeted towards our students but also our community. Therefore, we are developing a Service-learning strategy.

Service learning is an educational approach that balances training and instruction with the opportunity to serve in the community, so that a progressive learning experience is provided to the students. The National Youth Leadership Council in US defines service learning as “a philosophy, pedagogy, and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards”.

Service-Learning connects the traditional classroom experience with the real life lessons that come through service. It allows participants the opportunity to effectively learn through the practical experience of serving the community in one way or another.

In order to reach our service learning aims, we are developing different projects:

Mozambique Service Project

CIS, together with the NGO Cruzada por los Niños designed a project to contribute with the personal development of the students, establishing a collaboration among CIS, Cruzada por los Niños and Fundación Mozambique Sur, the local NGO.

CIS students are part of Cruzada por los Niños; like an internship, they committed themselves to work more than 140 hours for this activity. The whole idea is to help and support the orphans who live in the village of Massaca one hour from Maputo.

Speak Truth to Power (STTP)

Speak Truth To Power, a project of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, is a multi-faceted global initiative that uses the experiences of courageous defenders from around the world to educate students and others about human rights, and urge them to take action. Issues range from slavery and environmental activism to religious self-determination and political participation. Speak Truth to Power began as a book written by Kerry Kennedy (and since translated into 6 languages with more coming), and has been adapted into a dramatic production by Ariel Dorfman.

SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER (STTP) educates students and the public about human rights issues and provides the tools for creating change in their communities.

All Degree courses include at least one session devoted to explain how to apply the defense of the Human Rights to the contents of the subject.

We are developing this project jointly with International Studies Foundation.

English Access Micro-scholarship Program

The Access Program is an English-language program for students from the Community of Madrid (Spanish Autonomous Community of Madrid) in danger of social exclusion, who are between the ages of 13 and 20.

This educational program also explores the values and culture of the US, and has a duration of two years.

It has been running since October of 2015.

The Access Program is designed and financed by the US Embassy in Spain.

CIS students collaborate in Acess helping the kids develop their business plans in the Entrepreneurship module of the course.